Wheel spoke washer



Nov. 28, 1933. J, Q GARVEY l 1,936,757

WHEEL sPoKE WASHER v Filed July 29. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 28, 1933. J. D. GARVEY 1,936,757

WHEEL SPOKE WASHER Filed July 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 28, i933 ,iillhili PATENT FFICE Claims.

My invention relates to a device especially adapted for washing the spolfzes of the wheels of automobiles, trucks and the like, conjunction with means whereby controllable streams oi water are adapted to be delive' ed on each spoke adjacent to the spoke contacting fabric; the device being arranged to sirnultamem ously wash a number of such spokes during eac manipulation oi the device.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be readily coniprehended from the following detailed descri' tion ci the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved device, with portions of the handle broken away, and the water conveying ineans omitted.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of the fabric holding members.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the fabric holding member spacer and conduit holder.

Figure l is a perspective view of a wheel with my improved device shown in spolre engaging and washing position; with a portion of the handle and water conveying conduit broken away.

Fig-ure 5 is a detail perspective or" the handle attaching element of the device.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View of the intermediate spoke washer and a portion oi the handle, together with a portion o1 the Water conveying tube; the viewbeing taken substantially on thev line 6-f5 of Figure l.

Figure 7 is a sectional view ci a portion oi the Water conveying nieans.

For purposes of illustration, my invention is shown in connection with the artillery or wood spoke type of wheel, although it will be understood that the device may equally as well be employed for washing other types or" spokes.

In its specic embodiment, it involves a suitable handle lG, the inner end whereoi" is provided with a longitudinal bore t receive the rod ll of the central or intermediate spolre washing element; the bore being oi length to receive a considerable portion ,of the rod 1i.

The bore may be oi larger diameter than the rod l1 and provided with a sleeve l2 oi size just sucient to peririt the rod to slide therethrough; While the outer end of the bore is provided with a sleeve 13 of larger internal dimensions so as to also receive a coil spring 14 disposed about the rod 11. The sleeve 13, at itsV outer end, is pro'n vided with the longitudinal slots at 15 to receive the ends of a pin 1G which extends transversely through the rod l1 and maintains spring 14 in one of (Ci. 15e- 128) compressed condition; the other or inner end oi the spring seating on the end of the sleeve l2.- From this construction, it isa-pparent that the coil spring le yieldinglyV forces the rod l1 outwardly. Y

The end of the handle 10 is provided with a ferrule member 17 which is shown secured in place by suitable rivets or pins 1'8; While' the outer end of the'ferrule is shown somewhat com-- pressed and out away atdiagonally opposite points, as at 19 in Figure 5, so as to provide the two parallel flat side wings 20,20, united at the outer ends by the end wall portionl 21,- centrally apertured at 22 for the sliding passage of rod 1l therethrough.

The outer end of rod 1l is provided With a spacer element or plate 23,'shovvn in detail in FigureV 3. The plate 23 is preferably rectangular as shown, with the two ends bent atright angles and parallel with each other as? shown at 24,Y 24 75Y (see Figure 3) and eachof theseends provided with an aperture 25 to receive a pin 26, see` Figure l, whereby the fabric holdingelementsv or lingers 27 are pivotall-y secured to theV spacer element 23; the fingers 27 (see Figure 2) each hav- 80 ing a hole at 28y to receivethe pin 26;

The longitudinal sides ofthe spacer plate 23-are provided with prearranged socket-sl or slots 29', arranged in spaced relation on opposite' sides of the transverse axis of the element, as shown'in 85 Figure 3.

The outer face of the spacer element or plate 23 is shown provided-with a' clip 30Y which has a swiveled connectionY with the plate as shown at 3l. The clip 30 is attached tothe end ofrod' 11 90' as shown at 32 inr Figure l.

rThis outer side of the spacer element or plate 23 is also shown provided with a laterally disposed loop rneinber 33 for holding one branch or prong of the biiurcated or mu1ti-pronged water 95 conveying tube 34 shown in Figures 4' and 7. and which is associated with my device for supplying sufficient water in the washing operation.

In the particular exemplification, I- disclose each spoke washing element consisting preferably oi four fabric holding ngers 27; two being disposed on each side of the spacer element or plate 23. These lingers 27 each consists; of aA suitable stiff Wire or rod bent intermediate of its ends to provide two spaced apart legs or sides 27, 27 (see Figure 2) and the outer orf fabric holding portion bent into the loop form shown at35 and thence laterally as shown in dottedY lines Figure 2 at 35'and continuing into asimilar loop 35 at the outer end of the other leg or portion 110 27 of the fingers; the legs 27, 27 thus being spaced apart as shown in Figure 2.

The rod constituting the double fabric holding finger, intermediate of its ends, is curved as shown in Figure 2, and said portion preferably flattened for stiffness and to receive the fulcrum pin receiving apertures 28; while the ends are bent substantially at right angles to the main portion as shown at 37 and apertured at 38 to have oneend of a coil spring 39 hook therein or be otherwise secured thereto.

The various fabric holding fingers are identical in construction; and are fulcrurned on the spacer plate 23 with their concaved sides disposed toward the fingers disposed along the opposite longitudinal side of plate 23. That is to say, the double fabric holding finger, shown in Figure 2, is intended to be disposed with its outer looped end curving or extending beyond the lower side of the spacer plate 23, as viewed in Figure 3, with the right angular ends 37, 37 disposed through a pair of adjacent slots 29 along the other or upper longitudinal edge of plate 23, as viewed in Figure 3; while a complemental fabric holding finger will be conversely arranged with the right angular ends -37 disposed in the slots 29 along the opposite longitudinal side of plate 23. The four complemental fingers are all fulcrumed on the pin- 26, disposed through the holes 25 of the angular ends 24, 24, of spacer plate 23 and one end of each coil spring 39 (there being four springs to each spoke washing element in the exemplification) secured to an end 37 of a finger on one side of plate 23, while the other end of said spring is secured to a corresponding end of the finger at the opposite longitudinal side of plate 23.

That is to say, the springs 39 are intended to contract and draw the ends 37, 37 of opposingly disposed lingers toward each other, thus causing the fabric holding or spoke washing ends to move toward each other into snug rubbing relation with the spokes.

The concaved sides of the fingers are provided with a suitable sheet of material such as wool cloth. These sheets or layers of cloth, shown at 40, are of a size to permit them to extend along the inner opposing sides of the fingers as shown in Figure 1, with the ends of the cloth or fabric folded about the loops V35, where they are preferably rmly held by wedge' blocks or plates 41, which are forced between the finger loops 35 and the main body of the fingers. With this arrangement, the cloth may be readily removed and renewed when occasion requires.

The construction of all spoke washing elements is identical, except that the two side elements are secured to rods 42, 42, which are connected at 43, within the compressed end of ferrule member 17 and rextend through the cut away sides 19 (see Figures land 5) of the ferrule member 17; the rods 42, 42 being of equal and predetermined length. It is apparent, that when the two side spoke washing elements are in engagement with their respective spokes, the distance from handle 10 tothe intermediate spoke is less than the distance from handle 10 to the two side spokes, and this difference will be yieldingly taken care of by the loosely mounted rod 11 and the coil spring 14; the spring 14 keeping the intermediate element in frictional engagement with its spoke.

With my device as exemplified in the drawings, three spokes of a wheel may be simultaneously washed and each spacer plate 23 is provided with a similar hook or loop member 33 for firm- 1y holding one bifurcation or prong of the water conveying tube 34 shown in Figures 4 and 7; the other end of the pronged tube 34 being, of course, connected to a suitable hose or water conveying conduit leading from a controllable source of water supply. The loop members 33 firmly hold the water conveying prongs in place so as to discharge the water onto the spoke and fabric.

While I believe the structure shown in the drawings to be a simple embodiment of the invention, certain modifications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A wheel spoke washer comprising a handle; a multiplicity of spoke washing elements carried by one end of the handle and each element consisting of complemental bowed fingers arranged in opposing relation to provide a spoke receiving socket therebetween the fingers being arranged to cross each other beneath the socket and there pivotally secured together so as to permit the opposing fingers to move toward each other; sheets of fabric arranged along the opposing sides of the fingers within the sockets; means at the outer ends of the fingers for holding the ends of the fabric in place; and means intermediate of the pvoted ends of opposing fingers whereby the opposing fingers with the fabric of the respective elements are forced into rubbing engagement with the respective spokes.

2. A wheel spoke washer comprising a handle; a plurality of spoke washing elements carried by one end of the handle and each element consisting of complemental bowed fingers arranged in opposing relation to provide a spoke receiving socket therebetween, the outer ends of the fingers being bent into fabric holding loops, while the inner ends are bent at an angle to the main portion; a spacer and holding plate for each element to which the fingers of each element are pivotally connected in advance of the inner ends; contracting springs secured to the inner ends of opposing fingers whereby the outer ends of said fingers are forced toward each other; and sheets of fabric arranged along the opposing sides of the lingers within the sockets, with the ends of the sheets held by the loops of said fingers.

3. A wheel spoke washer comprising a handle provided with a socket in one end; spoke washing elements consisting of a rod slidable in the handle socket; means whereby said rod is yieldingly held in said socket; rods secured on opposite sides of the slidable rod and disposed in a diverging manner; a spacer and holding plate secured to the outer end of each rod; spoke engaging elements pivotally secured to each plate and consisting of complemental fingers bowed intermediate of the ends to provide a spoke receiving socket, with the outer ends bent outwardly into fabric holding loops, while the inner ends are disposed beyond the pivotal points of the fingers; contracting springs secured to the inner ends of the opposing fingers whereby the outer'ends are drawn toward each other; sheets of fabricarranged along the opposing faces of the fingers within the spoke receiving socket, with the ends of the sheets held by the loops at the outer ends of the fingers; and water conveying tube holding means carried by each spoke washing element.

4. In a wheel spoke washer', a supporting rod; a fabric holding element comprising a plurality of complemental fingers each consisting of a rod bent intermediate of its ends into a substantially U-shape fabric holding loop disposed outwardly and providing two parallel spaced bowed legs with the ends bent at an angle to the legs; a spacer and holder plate notched on its longitudinal sides to receive said bent ends; means whereby the fingers are pivotally connected, adjacent to the ends, to said plate; contracting springs secured to the ends of opposingly disposed fingers whereby the looped ends are forced in a direction toward each other; and a sheet of fabric between the opposing fingers, with the ends of the sheet disposed about the outer looped ends of the fingers.

5. In a wheel spoke washer, a supporting handle; a fabric holding element composed of a plurality of complemental fingers, each consisting of a stiff wire bent intermediate of its ends into a substantially U-shape fabric holding loop disposed outwardly and providing two parallel spaced bowed legs, with the ends bent at an angle to the legs; a pivot pin carrying plate disposed between opposingly arranged fingers, with said fingers pivotally mounted adjacent to said bent ends, the longitudinal edges of the plate having spaced apart notches to receive said bent ends of the lingers; contracting means secured to the ends of opposing ngers whereby the outer looped ends of opposing fingers are forced toward each other; a water conveying tube holding element secured to said plate; and a sheet of fabric arranged along the opposing sides of the opposing fingers, with the ends of the sheet folded about said looped ends.

6. A wheel spoke washer comprising a plurality of spoke engaging elements, each consisting of complemental bowed fingers arranged in opposing relation to provide a spoke receiving socket therebetween, a spacer plate between the opposing fingers and provided with a pivot pin, all of the fingers being loosely mounted on said pin intermediate of their ends, contracting springs secured to the ends of opposing fingers, and a sheet of fabric disposed between the opposing fingers within said socket with the ends of the sheet removably secured to the outer ends of the fingers; a supporting rod secured to each spacer plate; a handle; means whereby said rods are supported by the handle in a diverging manner; and means whereby the intermediate one of said rods is yieldingly held in place.

7. A wheel spoke washer comprising a plurality of divergingly arranged spoke engaging elements, each consisting of complemental bowed fingers pivotally arranged in opposing relation to provide a spoke receiving socket therebetween, sheets of fabric arranged in the sockets, with the ends of the sheets removably held by the outer ends of the fingers; a handle, common to all of said elements, provided with a longitudinal socket at one end; a holding and guiding ferrule secured to said end of the handle; a supporting rod for each of said elements, the rods of the side elements being secured to said ferrule, while the rod of the intermediate element passes through said ferrule and into the handle socket; and spring means for yieldingly forcing the'rod of said intermediate element outwardly.

8. A wheel spoke washer comprising a plurality of divergingly arranged spoke engaging elements,

each consisting of complemental bowed fingers 5 3' pivotally arranged in opposing relation to pro vide a spoke receiving socket therebetween, the outer ends of the fingers being bent outwardly into fabric holding portions, a sheet of fabric arranged in the sockets with the ends of the sheets disposed about said holding portions of the fingers, contracting springs secured to the opposing fingers for drawing their outer ends toward each other; a handle common to all of said elements; a ferrule secured to one end of the handle; a supporting rod for each element, with the rods of the side elements secured to the ferrule, while the rod of the intermediate element slides in said ferrule; spring means whereby said intermediate rod is yieldingly forced outwardly; in combination with a multi-pronged water conveying tube, with one prong of said tube mounted on each of said elements.

JAMES D. GARVEY. 

